An Indigenous leader in Guatemala’s Agua Caliente, Rodrigo Tot led his community to a landmark court decision that recognized land titles for the Q’eqchi people and kept several mining companies from restarting a destructive nickel mine in his community.

For years, Canadian and other multinational mining companies have wreaked havoc on the Mayan Q’eqchi’ people -- allegations of murder and rape by the companies have been widely reported. Bravely taking on a Guatemalan legal system mired in corruption, Rodrigo shocked mining companies and environmental activists alike when he actually won.

But the victories have come at an enormous personal cost for Tot. In 2012, two of his sons were on a bus to Guatemala City when they were shot in what appeared to be a staged robbery. One of them died, and the other survived with grave injuries.

The Q’eqchi community’s quest to secure land titles continues -- the government has yet to enforce the court’s ruling, and a Russian company continues to pursue the expansion of the mine. In response, Tot set up a community watch group to keep trespassers at bay.

Send a message of support as Rodrigo continues his fight to keep multinational corporations from mining nickel in his community.

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